Method of and apparatus for finishing cloth



March 24, 1931. W B, BRQNANDER 1,797,754

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING CLOTH Filed June e, 1925 6 sheets-sheet 1 ATTOR Y5 Mmh 24, 1931,. W, B, BRONANDER 1,797,754

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING CLOTH Filed June 6, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 24, 1931A. .w. B. BRONANDER I 1,797,754

"METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING CLOTH Filed Jue 6, 1925 6 Sheets--Sheetl 3 y lkw INVENTOR ATTQRNE .March 24, 11931. `B -BRQLQMDEp'; 1,797,754

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHNG CLOTH Filed Jun e, 1925 6 sheets-sheet 4 March 24. 1931. w. B. BRQNANDER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHIG CLOTH Filed June 6, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 24, 1931.

W. B, BRONANDER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHNG CLOTH Filed June 6, 1925 fw @W5 3f lNvENToR W//hemB`Brondnder BY ATTO EY5 Patented Mar. 24, 193i UNITED STATES YVILHELM B. BRONANDER, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY METHOD F AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING CLOTH Application4 filed June 6,

This invention relates to methods of finishing textile material or cloth and to machines for carrying out th-e method.

, Textile material or cloth in passing through the various dyeing and conditioning processes is scarred, marked or disfigured and requires finishing before it is suitable for the trade.

This invention has for its salient object l0 to provide a method and apparatus for finish ing cloth, the method being so carried out and the apparatus being so constructed and arranged that the cloth after treatment thereby will present a uniform, finished and polished appearance free from marks, blemishes or disligurements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine so constructed that the material can be repeatedly subjected to treatment at the will of and under control of the machine operator.

Another object of the invention Vis to provide a construction so arranged that the pressure of the treating elements on the fabric in the regulator and the direction of movement of the fabric through the machine can be reversed.

-Another object of the invention .is to provide a novel and efficient method of finishing and polishing cloth.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part of this application, and in which Fig. l is an elevational View of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention' 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. l, parts being shown in seci0tionthe view being taken substantially on line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the structure shown in Figs. l and 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of web guiding means;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevation show` ing the mounting of the table on the supporting posts, this View being taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged-sectional elevation 1925. serial No. 35,471.

showing the vertical table adjustment and details of the drive for the elements or belts which act on the material being treated;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 6, showing further details of the worm drive for the belts;

Fig. 8 is a detail elevation of the belts and the table for supporting the material;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 2)*9 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of a slightly modified form of machine constructed in accordance with the invention; Y

Fig. 11 is an elevational View showing a structure constructed and Varranged tosimultaneously treat the fabric on both surfaces thereof; f

Fig. 12 is an elevational view, somewhat schematic, showing another form of structure constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation of another embodiment Vof the invention;

Fig. 14: is an enlarged sectional elevation showing one of the rubbing devices and the coacting pressure element; and

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing the wick feed for the treating liquid.

Broadly stated, the method of finishing textile material or cloth consists of rubbing one or both surfaces of the material under pressure first in one direction and then in the opposite direction.

The apparatus illustrated for carrying out the method comprises a plurality of oppositely driven elements mounted for engagement with the material being treated, and means for regulating the pressure of the elements on the material. The treating elements are preferably impregnated with a suitable treating liquid and the material as it is engaged by the treating elements is yrubbed first in one direction and then in the opposite direction. By regulating the pressure of the oppositely driven elements on the material, the direction of movement of the material through the machine is controlled.

Further details of thek invention will appear from the following description.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, the machine comprises a frame having mounted thereon a roll 11 of fabric to be treated, the roll being mounted on a shaft 12. From the roll 11, the fabric 13 passes over an idler 14 supported on vertical posts 15 and aiound a bowed guiding element .comprising a plurality ot roll sections16mouaited on a .bowed spindle 17. The object of the bowed guiding element is to spread the fabric laterally to its full width and prevent longitudinal wrinkles iii-the web. From the bowed guiding element, the material passes downwardly beneath an idler roller 18 across a vertically adjustable table 19 preferably having a glass 'top 20 and from the table 19.,.the material passes across a stationary .table .2 11arounda roller 22 to a takeup roll V23 mounted cna shaft v24.

The table mounting is illustrated particularly in Figs. '5 -and6.

Vertical table .adjustment In Fig. 6 .there -is :illustrated a transverse traine member having vertical bosses V31 and 32 receiving vertically adjustable supporting posts 33 and Y34.

The @posts 33 and 34 are mounted at their lower ends on the -outerrends of a Vl ar 35 car ried by -a vertically movable rack 36 slida'hly mounted in a'central boss 37 formed on the frame 30. '-Ihe .frack 3,6 'is engaged by a pinion 38 carried by spindle 39. An arm 40 :is secured ito the spindle and .has adjustably mounted thereon a weight 41,

Thezmounti-ng of-the table 19 on the posts 33 and 34 is illustrated particularly in Fig. 5. From thisshowing it Awill lbe seen thatz-the upper ends of the posts -arefspherical as shown at and the spherical upper ends are received by .daring sockets 46. Y

From the foregoing `description :it will be seen that the weight 41 acting through lthe arm 40, shaft 39, rack A36 and arm 3.5 will exert a. yielding upward pressure 'through the :posts 33 .and .84 on the table i9.

Tetz'ng table adjustment Y In addition to providing fa yielding vertical upward pressure for the ltable 19., means is provided Vfor tilting the table to Vcontrol the pressure :of :the :oppositely driven elements above the table :against the material passing across 'the table.

In .the form of the invention illustrated, straps and .51 are-secured :to downwardly extending webs 152 andb, the straps convergingdoWnw-ardly .and having secured to their lower ends a rod 53,.nuts 54 and55 on lthe rod being .positioned in engagement 4with Ythe straps. rThe rod 53 is :pivoted at 56 to 4an ,arm 5.57 .-,carrlied by a shaztt 58 and the shaft has also secured .thereto ran .elongated arm 59. 'The arm 159'isnor-mally pulled iin a clockwise direction bymeans of aspringi60 adjustably secured at .one end 611 tothe arm and ixedly secured at its other end 62 to the frame, and thus it will be seen that the spring 60 normally tends to tilt the table 19 about the spherical ends 45 of the posts 32 and 33 in such a direction that'greater pressure will be exerted at the right hand side of the table (viewing Figs. 1, 3 and V5) vrthan at the left hand side of the table.

0502671, rubbing devices Various foi.ins-foildevices may be provided i'or rubbing the material under pressure, but 'in the 'forni "ot the `invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, the rubbing devices comprise oppositely driv n endless belts and 71 `.preferably formed of felt -or some other absorbent material. y

rllhc belts 70 and 71 extend around driven rolls 72 and 73 and around idler rol/ls 74 and 7 5. The rolls 74and 75 are 'mounted at .each end ina frame 76 which -in `turn is vertically adjustable yon a screw 77 Vso as to place Izthe belts under the proper tension.

fhe rolls 72 and 7 3 are mounted onshafts 78 and 7.9 which have secu-red to their ends worin gears 80 and 81. These gears .mesh witha worm-82 positioned between 'the gea-rs and carri-ed by ashait 88 ldriven :by a motor S9 vertically supported as shown :in F ig. 6. The shaft 88 has `.thrust bearings 90 and 91 at opposite sides of the worin and has a ball thrust bearing 0,2 at one end thereof.

From lthe :explanation just `given it will be evident that the motor '89 acting through theshaiit-Sand worm 67 and worm'gears 80 and 81 will drive the rolls 72 and 73 simultaneously in opposite directions.

The beits 70 and 71 are preferably impregnatedfwith suitable-cloth treating liquid such as Volive voil vand :this liquid may ybe conducted to the belts through perforated pipes which as shown in Fig. 8 connect through branches 96 and 197 Y.to a supply pipe 98. Valves 99 are Vprovided for controlling the flow of the treating liquid to the discharge pipes '95. Y

The shaft 79 is extended asshown in Fig. 6 and has secured thereto a sprocket v10.0 connected by a chain 101 to drive a sprocket 102 carried by a shaft 103 mounted in a bracket 104 secured to the frame 10. The shaft 103 has secured to its opposite end a pai-r of pulleys 106 and Y107 The pulley 106 is connected by a belt 108 to drive the pulley 109 secured to the shaft .24 off the takeuproll 23. The pulley 107 is connected by a beit 110 to drive pulley 111 connected to the. shaft 12 of the supply roll 11. The shaft 1-2 also has secured thereto a drum which is encircled by a brake band 116. The iband has one end 117 fixed and its opposite-end is secured to a 'lever 118 having a weight '119 adjustably mounted thereon. n

The shaft 103 also has secured thereto a'pluraility .of pulleys 120, 121 and 122 adapted Ligarse.

tovbe operatively connected by a cross belt 123 to pulleys 124, 125 and'126 mounted on shaft 127 which carries the roll 22.

Operation andthe rubbing belts and 71. As shown y by the arrows on Fig. 3, the belts 70 and 71 are driven in opposite directions and thus the belt 70 will rub the upper surface of the material in one direction and the belt 71 will rub l the upper surface in the opposite direction.

larm tending to pull the arm in a clockwise direction, thus tilting the table about the spherical ends 45 of the posts 33 and 34 in a direction to exert a greater pressure against the belt 71 than against the belt 70.

It willbe noted that theA supply roll 11 will be driven by the belt in an anti-clockwise direction, thus tending to resist the pulling of the material from the roll. rlihis is also resisted by the pressure of the brake band 116 on the drum which is mounted on the shaft -12 of the ksupply roll. rllhe drive through the belt 110 is, of course, a friction ydrive and tends to maintain the material taut as it is drawn from the supply roll. rl`he takeup roll 23 is driven in an anti-clockwise direction and` is thus rotated to take up the material as it is fed across the table. The roll 22 is driven in a clockwise direction, thus tending to draw the material across the table.

The directionof movement ofthe material across the table of the machine will be controlled by the tilting adjustment of the tabl If lthe table is tiltedsin such a marmer that the belt 71 exerts a greater pressure against the material and table than the belt 70, the material will be fed to the right in Fig. 3. If, however, the arm 59 is swung in an anticlockwise direction, thus exerting a greater pressure against the belt 7 0, the material will be fed to the left. lVhen the material vis fedv to the left, it will be evident that the supply roll 11 becomes the takeup roll and since it is driven in an anti-clockwise direction, it will take up the material. Alsor the take-up roll y2d will become the supply roll and since this agraph it will be evident that the operator of the machine can control at will the direction of movement of the material across the table and if the material coming from the rubbers is not uniform in appearance and suitably finof the material can be reversed and in this way repeated treatments can be given thereto.

The machine shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive isadapted forftreating the upper surface only of the material. Fig. 10, however, illustrates a construction adapted for treating both the upper and lower surfaces of the material. 1n this embodiment of theinvention, the frame`13() has an adjustable table 131 mounted thereon and a stationary table 132. The frame also supports a supply roll 133 mounted on shaft 134, an idle guiding roll 135 disposed at one end of the frame and a roll 136 mounted on a shaft 137vdisposed at the other end of the frame. A takup roll 138 has a shaft 139 slidably mounted in brackets 140 (one of which is shown) and the talreup roll is driven by frictional engagement with a roll 141 mounted on a shaft 142 carried by vbrackets 143.

Thetable 131 is yieldingly forced upward by means of a lever which engages vertically slidable posts 151 having spherical upper ends 152. rlhe upper ends 152 of the posts seat in tapered sockets 153 formed on the under surface of thetable, this connection being similaito that illustrated in Fig. 5.

TV`Vei,g ,hts 154 are mountedl on the lever for forcing the table upwardly.

rlhe table131 is also mounted for tilting adjustment and this is effected in the present embodiment by means of a lever 155 pivoted at 156 to an extension 157 of the cross frame 158. The lever 155 is connected by a link 159 to lugs 160 disposed at one side of the table 119 and eccentric to the sockets 153. In Fig. 10, weights 161 are mounted on the left hand end of the lever v155 and exert an upward thrust on the link 159, thereby exerting an upward pressure on the portion of the table disposed beneath the right hand rubbing belt 162. If desired, the weights 161 canv be placed on the left hand end of the lever 155 or'at the right of the pivot 156, thereby eXerting a pulling action on thelink 159 and forcing the portion of the table which coacts with the left handend rubbing belt 163 upwardly.

rlfhe belts 162 and 163 coact with the table 131 to treat the upper surface of the cloth passing through the machin-e. In ythis embodiment of the invention, means is also provided for treating the under surface of the cloth. This means consists of a table slidably mounted on the frame and resiliently supported by springs 171 and 172 connected between the table and lugs 173 carried by a cross frame suitably mounted on the bed fram-e 17 4 of the machine. A yielding down ward pressure is exerted on the table by means of posts 175 which seat in sockets 176 formed on the table and the posts are moved downwardly by levers 177 mounted on fixed -piyots 17 8 and .provided jwith Weights 17:9 at their v*reeends `(one lever being shown).

A .tilting action on .the `table 157.0 is exerted by means of a lever 180 mounted on a :fixed pivot 181 and :havin-'g a .pair offdownwardly extending lugs 182and 183. The lug 182 'is adapted to engage .and coact with a vertical web 184 and the lug 183 correspondingly coacts witha web 185. If Weights 186 are supf ported on the vright hand end of the lever 180, the -lever will operate to force the right hand side of the table 170 downwardly so as to force .the material passing through the machine .against .the'idriven belt 190 disposed bene-ath .the table. If, however, the weights a-re placed on the left hand .endzof the lever 180, the pressure will be exerted against 'the lectt :hand side of the table, forcing this ,portion .of the table and the material in the direct-ion of the leftlhand driven belt 191. rThe .belts 162, 163, 190 and 191 can be driven in the mannerhereinbefore described in connection with the other embodiment of the invention .and y.it should be understood rthatthe two beltsiof yeach set vare driven in opposite directions as shown by the arrows. rIhe rol-ls V133, 136 and ldlare'driven in thesame man- `ner vas `:the rolls 11, 22 and 23 in Fig. 3 and, `therefore, the details of Vthe vdrive need not `be described.

In Fig. 10, however, `the takeup roll 138 is driven by friction against the roll 141 and as the takeup vroll increases in diameter, the shaft on which it is .mounted rides npwardly :in the brackets 140. Y

The liquid for impregnating the 'belts may ybe supplied 'to `the belts in any desired man- .ner as l.by pipes 195 provided with openings 'or directing'the yliquid against the inner sur faces of the belts. Y Y

Operatie/cof the structure shown in, Fig.

The cloth or material to be treated is led in this apparatus vfrom the roll 133 around idler Y135 'beneath the table 170 and over vthe rubbing belts 190 and 191 across the upper surface of table 131 beneath the-belts 162 and 163 across the stationary table 132 around feed vroll 136 and 4to .the takeup roll 13.8. By suit- :abl'y regulating the action ofthe levers on :the tables 170 and 131, the material canbe fed in either direction by varying v.the pressure. Thus the material can be successively .treated .until all marks, blemishes or other d-isligurements are eliminated.

Fig. 11 illustrates another form of the 'invention for treating yboth sides of .the material. In this form of the invention, a pair of belts 200, 201 is disposed above a second pair of'belts 202 and 203. The belts ot' each pair will be driven in opposite directions Vas indicated by the arrows and the upward pressure of the lower belts against ,the material and against the belts of the upper set can be regulated by means of weights 204 yand 205 mamar mounted respectively on levers '206 and 207.

In the formof the inventionshown inFi-g. 12, two sets vo'f'belts'are provided, one `set-comprising belts 210 and 211 adapted to coact with a table 212 and the other set of belts comprising belts v2115 and 216 adapted to :coact with a table 217. The belts Yof each -se't are driven in opposite directions and in this form of the invention, the rollers 220 `and 2210i the two sets are-shown ias-larger than .the vother rollers 222 and 223 `.of the ft-wosets. F or this reason, the ybelts 211 and 216 will be driven .at a faster rate of speed than the belts 210 and 21.5. `If desired, the belts'2101and 211 can be driven `in .the .same directionfand Vbelts 215 :and 216 .can .be .driven in thesame :direction.

In order to take up lany slack that may voccur Vin the web passing through the machine, a roller 225 is .shown as .carried by levers .226 :(one of which is shown) ,ithe levers beting actuated in an anti-,clockwise direction -by means of weights 227. At each '-.side ofthe roller 225., `.there -is disposed .a stationary roller 228.

The treating liquidmay `be yted to the .belts in any desired manner, but in Figs. 12 and 15 there lare shown Wicks 230 Vwhich extend into supply pipes 231 and engage the rollers around which the belts pass. The 7wicks for the belts 210 and 211=engage `the fsmsller rol-1- ers 232 and the wicks for the belts 21-51and 216 engage the rollers 223 Aand 221. The wicks 'act like siphons and insure a uniform distribution of theliquid on the belts.

Fig. 13 illustrates 4another embodiment .of :the invention in which .the rubbing elements consist of belts 240 :and 241 which .are driven in opposite directions and vcoact with tables or pressure elements v242 and v24:3. The parts 242 and 243 are yconnected by .a frame .244 having aslot24`5 therein. A yrod246 secured to :the frame 1'0 .of the machine extends .through the .slot i245.

The table'2i3fis 'pressed in thefdireiotion-of the belt '241 by means 'of a weight 248 suspended Ifrom ia lever 2.491nounted on a'fixed `pivot .250 and operable :on :the vtable "243 through apost251fpivotedat 252-t0 the lever and having 'a spherical bearing :contact 253 with the table.

The table 242 is forced upwardly in a similar ananner 'by weights `255 `which act :on s. lever -256 which in turn `-thI-ough .the lpost257 :exerts a-n upward :pressureon the table.

sure .of 'the rubbing-elements on the material can 'beregulated andthe direction of feed of the web .can be controlled.

As shown in Fig. v111,-the pressure .elements or tables can be concavedas at 260, the curvaxture substantially vconforming to the curvature `of the roller and belt.

From the foregoing specification it will be seen that simple, practical and effective means has been Vprovided for finishing and polishing textile material or cloth and that by means of the apparatus described and of the method outlined, a uniform, finished and polished appearance can be given to one or both surfaces of the cloth. Furthermore, by suitably regulating the pressures of the rubbing devices, the material can be fed in either direction and can be given successive treatments, if necessary.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been particularly shown and described, it Will be understood that the invention is capable of modification and that changes in the construction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, as expressed in the following claims.

Vhat I claim is:

l. Cloth finishing apparatus comprising a i plurality of oppositely driven belts of absorbent material mounted for engagement with the material being treated, and means for impregnating said belts with treating liquid, thereby to be applied to said material.

2. Cloth finishing apparatus comprising a plurality of oppositely driven endless belts mounted for engagement with the material being treated, and means including hard surfaces for regulating the pressure 0f the material against said belts.

3. Cloth finishing apparatus comprising a plurality of oppositely driven elements mounted for engagement with the material being treated, and means coacting With said elements for determining the direction of movement of the material.

' 4. Cloth finishing apparatus comprising a plurality of oppositely driven elements mounted for engagement With the material being treated, and pressure regulating means coacting with said elements for determining the direction of movement of the material.

5. Cloth finishing apparatus comprising a plurality of oppositely driven elements mounted for engagement with the material being treated, and adjustable pressure regulating means coacting With said elements for determining the direction of vmovement of the material.

6. Cloth finishing appara-tus comprising a support, a pair of oppositely driven elements associated With said support and adapted to coact with the support on the material being operated upon, and means for simultaneously moving the support in a manner to exert a greater pressure against one of said elements than against the other element.

7. Cloth finishing apparatus comprising a support, a pair of oppositely driven elements associated Withsaid support and adapted to coact With the support on the material being operated upon, and means for moving said 'support toward said elements and independent means for moving the Ysupport in a manner to exert a greater pressure against one of said elements than against the other element. i 8. Clothfinishin g apparatus comprising a support, a pair of oppositelydriven elements associated With said support and adapted to Y coact with .the support onV the material bel ing operated 'upon,and means for yieldingly moving said support toward said elements and independent means for moving the support in a manner to exert a greater pressure v a support, a pair of oppositely driven cloth rubbing elements associated with said support, continuously actuated means for moving the support toward said elements, and means for moving the support in a manner to exert .a vgreater pressureagainst one element than against the other element.

l1. Cloth finishing apparatus comprising a delivery roll, a takeup roll, oppositely drivenl cloth rubbing elements,cloth supporting means associated With said rubbing elements, means for guiding. a Web of cloth from the delivery roll betvveenthe rubbing elements and supporting means and means for driving thev delivery roll in a direction opposite to the direction of movement ofthe c loth therefromk and means for driving the takeup roll in a direction to Wind up 'the cloth Web thereon.

from the delivery rollbetween the rubbingl elements and supporting means and friction means for driving the delivery roll in a direction opposite tothe direction of movement of the cloth therefrom and means for driving the takeup rollin a direction to Wind up the cloth web thereon,` n p 13. Cloth finishing apparatus comprising a delivery roll, a takeup roll, an oppositely driven cloth rubbing element, cloth supporting means associated with said rubbing element, means for guiding a Web of cloth from the delivery rollbetWeen the rubbing element' and supporting means and means for driving the delivery roll in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the cloth therefrom .and means for drivico iso

ing the takeup roll in a direction to wind up the cloth web thereon.

14. Cloth finishing apparatus comprising a driven roller, a rubbing belt of absorbent material mounted on said roller, a, liquid supply pipe and a Wick extending into said pipe and engaging said. roller for conducting liquid to the roller and belt.

15'. Cloth iinishing apparatus, comprising a plurality of oppositely driven belts mounted for rubbing engagement With the material beingy treated and a hard surface adapted to engage the opposite side of the material being treated.

I6. Cloth finishing apparatus comprising a plurality of oppositely drivenbelts mounted: tor engagement with thematerial being treated, and hard supporting means against which said material is rubbed by' said belts'.

17. Cloth finishing apparatus comprising a. support and means for rubbing a web,v ot material against said support,l said means comprising a belt ot absorbent material, a rol-ler above said support adapted', to press said belt into rubbing engagement With. the material and a second rollerabovel said first roller and having; a smaller diametery than the first roller, said bel't beiing mounted on said rollers, and means;` forl impregnating said belt, with treating liquid.k

18. Cloth finishing apparatus comprisimg a support, means for rubbinga Weir ot'material passing, over said support, said means comprising a pair of;rol1ers,4onel of said rolls ers.. havingl a relatively large; diameter: and' the other roller bein-g disposed abofvef said roller' and having a, relatively small diamey ter and' a belt of? absorbentfmaterial mounted on said rollers;

1-9.A Cloth finishing apparatus comprising a support, means: for" rubbing; a web ot material passing over said support, said: means comprising a pair; ot rollers, one of said rollers. having a relatively large diameter and the other roller being disposed-A above said `roller and having a relatively smal-l di ameter, a belt of absorbent,materialmounted on said rollers, and means for exerting pressure between said belty and said support during the rubbingI operation.l

20. In a cloth finishingY mechanism, a rubbing device comprising a pair of spaced roll? ers of diierent diameters and' a belt of absorbent material mounted on said rollers, and means for supporting a web of material to be treated in position to be rubbedby the portion of the belt engaging the roiler of l'arger diameter.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set'myl handl this-teeth day of May, 1925-.Y

WILHELM B.v BRON ANDER.: 

